Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration by acute care surgeons saves time and money compared to ERCP. 2022

Alexander Morton, and Alexis Cralley, and Maggie Brooke-Sanchez, and Fredric M Pieracci
Denver Health Medical Center, 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO, 80204, USA. Electronic address: alexander.morton@dhha.org.

A typical pathway for treatment of choledocholithiasis (CD) in emergency general surgery patients involves same admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with either preoperative or postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The goal of this study was to describe our initial experience at a safety net hospital with acute care surgeon-performed laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) when CD is confirmed at the time of LC. We hypothesized that this strategy would result in reduced length of stay, and lower charges compared to ERCP. This was a retrospective case control study over a 2 year period matching LCBDE to ERCP (1:3) among a cohort of patients with CD confirmed at first procedure. Data is reported as median (interquartile range). Statistical analysis used the Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared tests with 95% confidence interval. Demographics, preoperative WBC, and bilirubin were similar between the LCBDE (n = 14) and ERCP (n = 37) groups. Success rate for LCBDE was 11/14 (79%), and the remaining three subjects successfully underwent post-operative ERCP. Overall complication rate for the LCBDE group was 1/14 (7%) and the readmission rate was 0/14 (0%). Length of stay for LCBDE vs ERCP was 2.5 (1-3) vs 5 (3-5) days (p < 0.01). Charges during initial hospitalization was $35858 ($26587-$49570) vs $48662 ($36018-$57106) (p = 0.05). LCBDE by acute care surgeons at the time of LC was associated with lower charges, reduced hospital length of stay, low rates of post-operative complications, and no readmissions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007902 Length of Stay The period of confinement of a patient to a hospital or other health facility. Hospital Stay,Hospital Stays,Stay Length,Stay Lengths,Stay, Hospital,Stays, Hospital
D002760 Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde Fiberoptic endoscopy designed for duodenal observation and cannulation of VATER'S AMPULLA, in order to visualize the pancreatic and biliary duct system by retrograde injection of contrast media. Endoscopic (Vater) papillotomy (SPHINCTEROTOMY, ENDOSCOPIC) may be performed during this procedure. ERCP,Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography,Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic,Cholangiopancreatographies, Endoscopic Retrograde,Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographies,Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographies, Endoscopic
D003135 Common Bile Duct The largest bile duct. It is formed by the junction of the CYSTIC DUCT and the COMMON HEPATIC DUCT. Choledochus,Bile Duct, Common,Common Bile Ducts,Duct, Common Bile
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D016022 Case-Control Studies Comparisons that start with the identification of persons with the disease or outcome of interest and a control (comparison, referent) group without the disease or outcome of interest. The relationship of an attribute is examined by comparing both groups with regard to the frequency or levels of outcome over time. Case-Base Studies,Case-Comparison Studies,Case-Referent Studies,Matched Case-Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Studies,Case Control Studies,Case-Compeer Studies,Case-Referrent Studies,Case Base Studies,Case Comparison Studies,Case Control Study,Case Referent Studies,Case Referrent Studies,Case-Comparison Study,Case-Control Studies, Matched,Case-Control Studies, Nested,Case-Control Study,Case-Control Study, Matched,Case-Control Study, Nested,Case-Referent Study,Case-Referrent Study,Matched Case Control Studies,Matched Case-Control Study,Nested Case Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Study,Studies, Case Control,Studies, Case-Base,Studies, Case-Comparison,Studies, Case-Compeer,Studies, Case-Control,Studies, Case-Referent,Studies, Case-Referrent,Studies, Matched Case-Control,Studies, Nested Case-Control,Study, Case Control,Study, Case-Comparison,Study, Case-Control,Study, Case-Referent,Study, Case-Referrent,Study, Matched Case-Control,Study, Nested Case-Control
D017081 Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic Excision of the gallbladder through an abdominal incision using a laparoscope. Cholecystectomy, Celioscopic,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy,Celioscopic Cholecystectomies,Celioscopic Cholecystectomy,Cholecystectomies, Celioscopic,Cholecystectomies, Laparoscopic,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies
D042883 Choledocholithiasis Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the COMMON BILE DUCT. Cholelithiasis, Common Bile Duct
D066231 Surgeons Medical practitioners qualified to practice surgery.

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